Augusta's economic impact keeps growing

The big tally of the economic power of the Augusta metro area was almost $20 billion in 2011.Gross domestic product in the Augusta area grew to $19.9 billion in 2011, up from $19.1 billion in 2010, placing Augusta 108th among metro areas in the country.Yes, 2011 is the latest number that federal statisticians have got and they just released it.Augusta was producing $18.2 billion in goods and services in 2008, says the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.Nation­ally, economic growth in 2011 was widespread as real GDP increased in 242 of 366 metropolitan areas, led by growth in professional and business services, durable-goods manufacturing and trade.The big gainers were Houston-Sugar Land, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Francisco-Oakland.

TWEETS FROM THE WEEK: News tweets from @Scuttlebiz...

Tri-Chek Seeds in south Augusta out of business after Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Guy who sank half court shot to win a car will get the car Friday at Master Chevrolet Cadillac in Aiken.

Mass layoff notice given to Georgia on Monday for 79 people losing their jobs at Comcast in Augusta.

Comcast officials say the real number for mass layoff is 68. The call center in Augusta being shut down and work moved to others in region.

February home sales higher than a year ago, according to Greater Augusta Association of Realtors. Agents sold 382 homes last month.